Apparel Online India Magazine April 1st Issue 2018 | Page 15

SUSTAINABILITY
Manufacturers
who got
recognition
for the initiative
• Texport Syndicate
India
• Shahi Exports
• First Steps Baby Wear
• Peacock Apparels
• Shakthi Knitting Ltd.
• JVS Export
• Welspun India Ltd.
in Factories’ in which top apparel
exporters, like Anant Ahuja,
Director, Shahi Exports and Co-
Founder & CEO, Good Business
Lab; Krish Iyer, CEO, Walmart
India and representatives from some
export houses also participated.
It was observed that women’s
empowerment work in factories
faces two challenges – time and
intent. Some women workers also
shared their experience in the
conference. Azhageswari, working
as a tailor with Cradle Clothing,
Tirupur shared how the training
helped in keeping her abusive
husband away. Sharanya from
Asian Fabrics underwent the
training, and using the learning was
able to convince 20 families to build
toilets in their houses.
Appreciating Swasti team for its
flexibility Vasudha Vasuki, MD,
Shell Apparels and an active
member in AWAKE (Association
of Women Entrepreneurs of
Karnataka) was of the opinion
that due to such initiatives, they are
more than a supplier for Walmart.
“Avani Bhadra from Welspun
India, who had undergone the
advance training, shared that
these helped more than 7,000
women, and said: “With this
training, I know today that even if
you don’t complete school, you can
be a leader.”
In partnership
with BSR and
other leading
brands, Swasti
implemented the
‘HERrespect,
HERFinance
and HERHealth’
programmes in
several factories
in Northern and
Southern India and
these programmes
are helping to
empower the
women workers.
Apart from this particular WiF
initiative, Swasti had earlier
developed and implemented the
P.A.C.E. program in partnership
with Gap Inc. Similarly Swasti is
also partnering with other leading
brands in the apparel sector like
Levi’s, M&S, Inditex, Debenhams,
Primark, zLabels, Motorola, C&A,
H&M and international non-profit
organizations like BSR, etc., to
promote the well-being of the
workers through intervention
related to life skills, health, social
protection, gender relationship,
financial inclusion, etc. In
partnership with BSR and other
leading brands, Swasti implemented
the ‘HERrespect, HERFinance and
HERHealth’ programmes in several
factories in Northern and Southern
India and these programmes are
helping to empower the women
workers. Orient Craft (OC)
implemented the HER programme,
in partnership with Swasti. Shivani
Bhardwaj, Manager, HR, CSR
and Compliance, OC shared, “We
have seen good improvement in the
women workers who got training and
guidance under these sustainable
initiatives. Swasti team is doing a
good job.” Brands like ANN INC.,
Talbots, M&S and AEO supported OC
factories for such initiatives.
• Indian Designs
Exports
• Bangalore Suits/
Sri Venkateswara
Garments
• Trident Group
• Shell Apparels
• Cigfil Limited
• Everblue Apparel
Limited
• Gokaldas Images/
Outdoor Clothing
• Suvastra India
• Atlas Export
Enterprises
• Synthesis Home
Textiles
• Sibaflor Natural
Decorations
• Cradle Clothing
• Asian Fabricx
• Banswara Syntex
Limited
www.apparelresources.com | APRIL 1-15, 2018 | Apparel Online India
15